Japan's teenage sprint sensation Yoshihide Kiryu has withdrawn from this month's Asian Games in South Korea with a torn left hamstring, the Japan Association of Athletics Federations said on Tuesday.
A scan confirmed the worst for the 18-year-old gold medal prospect, who sustained the injury after winning a collegiate 200 metres race at the weekend, Japanese officials added.
Kiryu, who clocked 10.01 in the 100 metres as a schoolboy last year, had been poised to compete in the 100 and 4x100 relay at the Asian Games, which begin in Incheon on September 19.
"I'm deeply disappointed because this was the biggest competition of the year for me," Kiryu said in a statement. "I am very sorry to let everyone down."
Kiryu has been tipped to become the first Japanese runner to break the 10-second barrier. Koji Ito ran 10 second flat in winning the 1998 Asian Games title in Bangkok.